A New Born
Pregnant for 9 months - 40 weeks - seems like an eternity. Finally the
baby has arrived - but what now? What do I do? How do I cope? How will our
new born develop?
We have a series of article to help you along the way. They cover the
development of your new born from birth all the way through to 5 years.
Below is the first article and here are the links to all the other
articles.
All normal newborns are intelligent and able to learn from birth. They
can hear, feel, see, taste and smell, and by using their senses will begin
to learn about their world and the people in it who are, in the beginning,
their whole world.
A baby has both emotional and physical needs from birth. Frequent close
physical contact is essential, particularly in the early weeks. Warm
physical closeness promotes a feeling of comfort and wellbeing, of being
loved and secure. By placing the baby on the mother or father’s chest,
the baby will also be able to hear the heartbeat, which has been a
familiar sound for the past few months.
Crying
Parents often don’t realise how much a new baby cries, and they find it
very distressing. Crying is the new baby’s only effective way of
communicating. The baby has a different cry for different needs. Gradually
you will learn to recognise each one of them. Crying can be due to hunger
or discomfort. Often ‚wind is blamed, but more often the baby’s need
is for physical closeness, to be cuddled and comforted. Cuddling is
reassuring. Providing love and comfort is not spoiling the baby.
Some babies ‚fuss before settling to sleep. After a while you will
recognise your baby’s individual pattern of settling.
Feeding
New babies can be sleepy. Some of them take a while to learn to suck
vigorously. Feed times can be long, and you may need practice at keeping
your baby awake in the first few weeks during the feeds. When your baby is
hungry, give a feed. As you feed, more milk is made. Some dribbling or
regurgitating during or after feeds is to be expected. If you think there
is too much, mention it to the doctor or nurse.
Breastfeeding
Breast milk is free, natural, clean, and safe and has all the nutrients
needed for good health. Breast milk is always available, is easy to digest
and means less chance of infection. Warmth and close skin contact during
breastfeeding also give your baby and you pleasure and satisfaction. Hold
your baby close - chest to chest with baby’s chin on your breast.
Support your baby. You can always get advice from your child health nurse
or local Nursing Mothers’ Association.
This close physical relationship allows mother and baby to get to know
one another quickly. Physical closeness with the father is of equal
importance to the child’s learning and to their relationship.
If the choice is made not to breastfeed, the baby’s emotional needs
can be fulfilled at feed time in exactly the same way. In this situation,
fathers too can share in feeding the baby.
Sucking Time
The need to suck will vary considerably among babies. Some will need to
suck more frequently than others and for varying lengths of time. New
parents may be confused if the baby’s need to suck is misunderstood. ‘If
sucking means hunger, have I got enough milk?’ If your baby receives no
fluids other than breast milk, appears alert and has at least six to eight
wet nappies in each 24-hour period, it is an indication your supply is
sufficient.
Colostrum
There may be only a small quantity of colostrum, the very first milk, but
it is high in protein and calories. Colostrum has excellent anti-infective
properties. These are also present to a lesser extent in breast milk.
However, breast milk will not protect a baby against all illnesses -
whooping cough for example. It is wise to keep your baby away from people
with infections such as colds and flu, and to have your baby vaccinated at
the recommended ages.
When the milk changes during the first week it may look blue and
watery, but its food value is still excellent.
The time it takes to establish breastfeeding is variable. It may even
take six to eight weeks, but baby will get all that is needed if feeding
times are flexible.
Waking at night for a feed (or two) is usual. This helps baby to grow
rapidly and establishes breastfeeding more quickly. It is the baby’s
sucking that stimulates the production of milk, so the more sucking, the
more milk there will be.
It is worthwhile learning how to express your own milk while you are in
hospital. This can be a way of giving yourself comfort if your breasts are
too full, or of collecting milk if for any reason your baby cannot go to
the breast.
Careful personal cleanliness is important for a nursing mother, and
breast pads need to be changed frequently. Avoid using plastic-backed
pads. They tend to keep the skin soggy and encourage nipple soreness.
Bottle Feeding
Commercial infant formula is recommended for bottle-fed babies and is more
suitable than cow’s or goat’s milk or soy-based drinks. Babies should
drink formula (and other milks) for the first 12 months of life before
changing to cow’s milk.
The formula powder and boiled water must be measured carefully when
making up baby’s bottle. Your child health nurse can discuss this with
you. Bottle-fed babies should always be held and cuddled at feeding time,
as they need the same loving and fondling as breastfed babies.
Boiled Water
A baby may get thirsty between meals like anyone else, particularly in hot
weather. Use a teaspoon or a bottle to offer a drink of boiled water
(unsweetened) if baby is awake and unsettled. A baby may want a taste only
or may drink 30 to 60 mL. Breastfed babies may prefer an extra feed. Let
the baby decide.
New Look
There are many changes to the baby’s appearance in the first few weeks.
- Head shape: The baby’s head may be moulded from having to adjust
to the birth canal. It will soon change.
- Skin: The skin is the protective covering of the baby. Rashes and
blemishes are quite common and usually quite normal.
- Feet and hands: Soles and palms may look bluish and feel cold most
of the time at first. This is normal and does not mean a baby is too
cold - feel the body to judge warmth.
- Eyelids: Eyelids can look puffy for a day or two. Most babies are
born with blue-grey eyes. It may be six months or even later before
they acquire their permanent colour. Tears are not usually present at
birth. They usually appear at about six weeks.
- Breasts: Breasts can be red and swollen in the first few weeks, in
both boy and girl babies. This usually subsides without treatment.
- Umbilical cord: The stump of the umbilical cord always protrudes at
first, but soon shrivels and falls off. If there is a slight discharge
and bleeding from the navel, continue caring for it as you were shown
in hospital. Don’t hesitate to ask the doctor or nurse if you are
worried.
- Genitals: Genitals of both sexes can look large at first. With girls
the lips of the vulva are usually swollen just after birth; a creamy
pinkish discharge from the vagina is not unusual and will soon stop.
The scrotum in boys may be swollen during the first few days but will
settle. Circumcision is no longer routine for boys. Talk this over
with your doctor.
Weight
A baby usually loses weight during the first week or so, possibly up to a
tenth of birth weight. This is normal, and is usually regained quite
quickly.
Breathing
While you are in hospital, take notice of your baby’s breathing: then
you will know what to expect when you are by yourself at home. In the
first few weeks a baby’s breathing can vary, sometimes it is rapid and
other times quite slow. Sneezing and snuffling are common at this age, and
breathing can be noisy. Like all noises, it seems louder at night.
Hiccups
Most babies hiccup. It doesn’t worry them so it needn’t worry you.
Bowels
The first few stools have a sticky consistency and look blackish. They
change to a lighter colour when feeding starts.
A breastfed baby’s stools can vary from bright yellow to greenish
yellow; the texture is fine, but there may be whitish flecks, like seeds.
The smell is not unpleasant.
The bowel motions of a breastfed baby seldom need cause concern. The
numbers can vary tremendously - from once a week to one before and after
each feed. All are perfectly normal for a healthy baby.
A formula-fed baby’s stools can vary from a creamy yellow to khaki,
depending on the formula. They are usually firmer than with breastfeeding,
but less frequent. There may be one or more bowel motions daily, or even
one every second or third day; it doesn’t matter while the stool is
still soft. If it becomes dry, hard and crumbly, offer 30 ml of boiled
water between feeds until you can ask your child health nurse about it.
Dummies
Cuddling, rocking, talking and singing can usually soothe unhappy babies.
However, if all else fails to comfort, you may try a dummy; but strict
cleanliness as for bottles and teats is important. So-called ‚cleaning’
the dummy in your own mouth merely puts germs all over it. Some are better
than others for safety reasons; you can ask your child health nurse about
them.
Bath Time
You may be nervous about bathing your baby at first, even though you have
been shown how in hospital. Sometimes babies cry a lot during bath time;
it is still very strange for them. However, if they are very distressed,
just ‚top and tail’ them for a while. A small feed before bathing may
help.
Rest And Sleep
Rest on your bed as much as possible while in hospital, and try not to do
too much for a week or two when you arrive home. Extra cleaning can wait
for a while.
Broken nights are part of being a parent. A mother usually feels
constantly tired in the first months. With a new baby she is ‚on call’
24 hours a day, and a routine is difficult to establish.
Rest is so important that it is worthwhile organising your time to
include a nap during the day, to allow for sleep lost during the night.
The Family
Even the most welcome baby means some readjustment for everyone in the
family. Other children, toddlers especially, but even the older ones, may
take a while to adjust, and need understanding and patience. It is
difficult for them to have to share you with another. Talking and planning
during the pregnancy helps.
People want to help new parents, but their advice can be confusing.
Remember, no one knows your baby better than you do.
Safety In The Car
Your baby needs to be restrained in a restraint appropriate for their age
and weight whenever travelling in the car. Never nurse a baby or small
child in your arms in a moving car. Should an accident occur, it would be
impossible for you to protect your baby from injury or death.
In many countries the law requires that infant restraints be used when
travelling in cars. Look for the relevant approval mark on any restraint
you use. A restraint over 10 years old may not meet current.
Hints For Home
Forget about those unrealistic magazine photos of immaculate homes. They
always look as though no one lives in them. If you find your spirits
sagging about mid-morning, take the time to pep yourself up with a milk or
fruit drink, and a healthy snack.
Sitting down to the job is one of the best energy savers; for instance,
when you are preparing vegetables, cutting school lunches, or folding
washing. Plan rest periods during the day. Even 10 minutes lying on your
bed whenever you can is refreshing for your mind and body. Sit with your
feet up or lie down.
It’s easier to supervise toddlers if you rest on a couch in the
playroom, or in their bedroom. Give yourself a head start with the washing
by throwing a load in the machine at night, ready to hang out early next
morning. Cut ironing to a minimum for now and maybe forever.
Sexuality After Your Baby
How long you and your partner should wait before having intercourse after
childbirth depends on how you both feel. A lot depends on how difficult
the birth was for the mother. Mutual agreement is a much better guide than
the advice of friends or others. Medically, intercourse is safe once the
bright red blood loss has ceased.
It is important for both of you to discuss how you feel and any worries
you may have about making love again. For about two out of three women,
there is a decline in sexual feelings, behaviour and satisfaction. This
may last several months. Don’t feel bad about it. Try to remember that a
woman at this time of her life still needs to be loved, wanted and feel
feminine.
Tiredness is a factor in a new mother’s loss of sexual feeling -
babies take a lot of looking after. Scar tissue from episiotomies or
tears, even though healed, can cause discomfort during intercourse. Try
varying the positions you use. If you have painful scar tissue, ask your
doctor to arrange treatment by a gynaecological physiotherapist.
Due to altered hormones following childbirth, the woman’s vagina may
seem dry because it is not lubricating as much as before; this may last
for about 12 months. Petroleum Jelly, saliva, or contraceptive foam, all
readily available, can be of help.
It is possible for a woman to become pregnant again as soon as four
weeks after a baby’s birth. Your own doctor or a family planning clinic
can give you more information on avoiding an unwanted pregnancy
Getting Back Into Shape And Fitness
Pregnancy, childbirth and caring for your baby cause stretch and strain to
your pelvic floor, stomach muscles, and your back. It is important to give
these parts of your body extra care in the next few months so they become
strong again and do not cause problems in the future.
Remember:
- Strong pelvic floor muscles prevent vaginal slackness and leaking of
urine or faeces so practise your pelvic floor exercises
- Care of your back is needed in all activities at home and with your
baby, to prevent acute and chronic back pain
- Strong stomach muscles help towards a trim figure, and they support
your spine.
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